Toy automobile direction indicator



H. J. M CAULEY TOY AUTOMOBILE DIRECTION INDICATOR May 28, 1963 FiledJan. 22, 1962 INVEN TOR. H5255? 7 J. /7c C4 (/4 5y ATTORNEYS UnitedSttes 3,091,212 TOY AUTOMOBILE DIRECTION INDICATOR Herbert J. McCauley,731 W. Ferry St., Buffalo, N.Y. Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,541 4Claims. (Cl. 116-50) This invention relates to vehicle direction signalmeans which is incorporated directly in the steering mechanism of thevehicle and operates as a part thereof.

The direction signal means of the invention is intended particularly foruse in toy vehicles of the velocipede type and more particularly forpedal-operated toy automobiles. The present invention provides automaticdirection indicating means in such toy vehicles which operates as a partof the steering mechanism and may be incorporated in the vehicle at anegligible increase in production costs and with no added moving par-ts,assembly operations, or other mechanical complications.

In the form of the present invention shown herein by way of example thevehicle has front wheel steering mechanism generally similar toconventional automobile steering arrangements and includes a cross linkextending transversely of the vehicle to connect the steering arms ofthe two front wheels. The body of the vehicle has lateral openingsregistering with the steering cross link and the latter has end portionextensions which are so proportioned that steering movement to theright, for instance, projects the right hand end portion extension ofthe cross link through the right hand body opening to signal a rightturn, and vice versa.

A single specific embodiment of the principles of the present inventionis illustrated in the drawing and described in detail in the followingspecification. However, it is to be understood that such embodiment isillustrative of the principles of the invention and variousmodifications may be made without departing therefrom, the scope of theinvention being limited only as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. '1 is a side elevational View of the steering and drive mechanismof one form of the toy vehicle of the present invention with portionsthereof shown in crosssection and with the vehicle body generallyindicated in dot and dash lines;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view :of the steering and drive structureof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the combination steering crosslink and direction indicating member of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Like characters of reference denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawing and, referring particularly to FIG. 1, the vehicle comprisesa sheet metal body shell provided with front and rear ground wheels 11and 12, respectively. A transverse generally upright brace wall 13 isfixed at its opposite side edges to the interior surfaces of the sidepanel portions of body 10.

A conventional velocipede drive arrangement comprises a rear drivingaxle 14 having double crank throws formed therein in the usual manner. Apair of longitudinal drive links 15 and 16 are pivoted at their rearends to the crank throws of rear axle 14 and are pivotally connected attheir front ends to the lower ends of arms 17 and 18 which are pivotedat their upper ends to the rear face of wall 13, as indicated at 19 inFIG. 1. Pedals 22 and 23 pivotally attached to links 15 and 16 areoperated in the usual manner by an occupant seated on a seat 25associated with body 10.

The front wheels 11 are carried by steering post members designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 26. Steering posts 26 have general-1yupright medial portions 27 pivotally supported by wall 13 as at 28 andthe lower $591,212 Patented May 28, 1963 end portions of steering posts27 extend laterally outwardly as at 30 to furnish rotatable support forfront wheels 11. Upwardly of the medial journal portions 27 the steeringposts extend forwardly as indicated at 31 and then upwardly as indicatedat 32.

Across link 33 is perforated to receive the two upward terminal portions32 of the steering posts 26 and a steering link 35 is pivotally attachedat one end to one of the upward steering post terminal portions 32.

A steering post 36 passes through a perforation in wall 13 and aperforation in an upper panel portion 37 of body 1% to be thus rotatablysupported. Steering post 37 has -a steering wheel 38 at its upper endand an offset crank formation 39 at its lower end, such crank formationbeing pivoted to steering link 35 whereby rotation of the steering wheel38 moves the cross link 33 substantially in the direction of its ownlength transversely of the vehicle to steer the wheels 11.

The main body portion of cross link 33- is disposed substantiallyhorizontally and opposite end portions thereof are bent as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 to extend laterally outwardly in a substantially verticalplane, such vertically disposed lateral extensions being designated 40.The side panel portions of the body 10 are perforated as at 41 ingeneral registry with cross link 33- so that the end extensions 48,which are normally mainly contained within the confines of body 10, areprojected laterally beyond one side or the other of the body 10 uponsteering movement and consequent lateral movement of cross link 33.

Thus a simulation of direction signal operation is provided without anysubstantial increase in the cost of production and with no [additionalmoving parts or connections over and above those normally required for asteering mechanism of the kind herein shown and described. If desiredthe flat surfaces of the extensions 40* may be provided with lightreflective material or may be colored in a contrasting manner withrespect to the vehicle body.

I claim:

1. In an occupant-propelled toy vehicle, a pair of laterally spacedsteerable ground wheels and a steering wheel for controlling the same,steering mechanism connecting between said steering wheel and saidsteerable wheels including a cross link adapted to move lengthwise in adirection transversely of the vehicle upon steering move ment, directionindicating extensions at opposite ends of said cross link, said vehicleincluding lateral body panel portions having perforations in registrywith said cross link whereby upon steering movement in a given directionthe end extension of said cross link at said side of the vehicle isprojected through the body panel perforation to provide a turn signal.

2. In an occupant-propelled toy vehicle, a body, a pair of laterallyspaced steerable ground wheels and a steering wheel for controlling thesame, steering mechanism connecting between said steering wheel and saidsteerable wheels including a cross link adapted to move lengthwise in adirection transversely of the vehicle upon steering movement, integraldirection indicating extensions at opposite ends of said cross linkadapted upon steering movement to project laterally beyond said body toprovide a turn signal.

3. In a toy vehicle, a pair of laterally spaced steerable ground wheelsand a steering wheel for controlling the same, steering mechanismconnecting between said steering wheel and said steerable ground wheelsincluding a cross bar adapted to move lengthwise in a directiontransversely of the vehicle upon steering movement, direction indicatingextensions at opposite ends of said cross bar comprising verticallydisposed plate portions, said vehicle including lateral body panelportions having perforations in registry with said cross bar wherebyupon steering movement in a given direction the end extension of saidcross bar at said side of the vehicle is projected through the bodypanel perforation to provide a turn signal.

4. In a toy vehicle, a pair of laterally spaced steel-able .groundwheels and a steering wheel for controlling the same, steering mechanismconnecting between said steering Wheel and said steerable ground Wheelsincluding a cross bar adapted to move lengthwise in a directiontransversely of the vehicle upon steering movement, integral directionindicating extensions at opposite ends of said 4 7 cross bar comprisingvertically disposed plate portions adapted upon steering movement in agiven direction to project laterally beyond said body in such directionto provide a turn signal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSIacobus Dec. 4, 1923 Kraeft Jan. 4, 1938

1. IN AN OCCUPANT-PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACEDSTEERABLE GROUND WHEELS AND A STEERING WHEEL FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME,STEERING MECHANISM CONNECTING BETWEEN SAID STEERING WHEEL AND SAIDSTEERABLE WHEELS INCLUDING A CROSS LINK ADAPTED TO MOVE LENGTHWISE IN ADIRECTION TRANSVERSELY OF THE VEHICLE UPON STEERING MOVEMENT, DIRECTIONINDICATING EXTENSIONS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CROSS LINK, SAID VEHICLEINCLUDING LATERAL BODY PANEL PORTIONS HAVING PERFORATIONS IN REGISTRYWITH SAID CROSS LINK WHEREBY UPON STEERING MOVEMENT IN A GIVEN DIRECTIONTHE END EXTENSION OF SAID CROSS LINK AT SAID SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ISPROJECTED THROUGH THE BODY PANEL PERFORATION TO PROVIDE A TURN SIGNAL.